The techniques utilized in the homosexual relations among the females in the sample were the techniques that are ordinarily utilized in heterosexual petting which precedes coitus, or which may serve as an end in itself. The homosexual techniques had differed primarily in the fact that they had not included vaginal penetrations with a true phallus.
The physical contacts between the females in the homosexual relations had often depended on little more than simple lip kissing and generalized body contacts. In some cases the contacts, even among the females who had long and exclusively homosexual histories, had not gone beyond this. In many instances the homosexual partners had not extended their techniques to breast and genital stimulation for some time and in some cases for some period of years after the relationships had begun. Ultimately, however, among the females in the sample who had had more extensive homosexual experience, simple kissing and manual manipulation of the breast and genitalia had become nearly universal (in 95 to 98 per cent); and deep kissing (in 77 per cent), more specific oral stimulation of the female breast (in 85 per cent), and oral stimulation of the genitalia (in 78 per cent) had become common techniques. In something more than half of the histories (56 per cent), there had been genital appositions which were designed to provide specific and mutual stimulation. But vaginal penetrations with objects which had served as substitutes for the male penis had been quite rare in the histories.
Further data on the nature of female homosexual techniques may be found in: Forberg 1884(2):113-115, 135, 141, 143. Parke 1906:322. Rohleder 1907(2): 466, 484, 494. Bloch 1908:529. Talmey 1910:154-155. Havelock Ellis 1915(2):257-258. Krafft-Ebing 1922:400. Kronfeld 1923:58. Kisch 1926: 195-196. Eberhard 1927:354, 360. Kelly 1930:137. Deutsch 1933:40; 1944: 348. Sadler 1944:96. Hirschfeld 1944:232-233. Bergler 1948:200. See also the classical references in footnote 22.
It is not generally understood, either by males or by females who have not had homosexual experience, that the techniques of sexual relations between two females may be as effective as or even more effective than the petting or coital techniques ordinarily utilized in heterosexual contacts. But if it is recalled that the clitoris of the female, the inner surfaces of the labia minora, and the entrance to the vagina are the areas which are chiefly stimulated by the male penetrations in coitus, it may be understood that similar tactile or oral stimulation of those structures may be sufficient to bring orgasm. However, for females who find satisfaction in having the deeper portions of the vagina penetrated during coitus, the lack of this sort of physical stimulation may make the physical satisfactions of homosexual relationships inferior to those which are available in coitus.
Nevertheless, comparisons of the percentages of contacts which had brought orgasm in marital coitus among the females who had been married for five years, and in the homosexual relations of females who had had about the same number of years of homosexual experience, show the following:
% of contacts leading to orgasm
In fifth year of marital coitus
In more extensive homosexual experience
Percent of females
0
17
7
1-29
13
7
30-59
15
8
60-89
15
10
90-100
40
68
Number of cases
1448
133
The higher frequency of orgasm in the homosexual contacts may have depended in part upon the considerable psychologic stimulation provided by such relationships, but there is reason for believing that it may also have depended on the fact that two individuals of the same sex are likely to understand the anatomy and the physiologic responses and psychology of their own sex better than they understand that of the opposite sex. Most males are likely to approach females as they, the males, would like to be approached by a sexual partner. They are likely to begin by providing immediate genital stimulation. They are inclined to utilize a variety of psychologic stimuli which may mean little to most females. Females in their heterosexual relationships are actually more likely to prefer techniques which are closer to those which are commonly utilized in homosexual relationships. They would prefer a considerable amount of generalized emotional stimulation before there is any specific sexual contact. They usually want physical stimulation of the whole body before there is any specifically genital contact. They may especially want stimulation of the clitoris and the labia minora, and stimulation which, after it has once begun, is followed through to orgasm without the interruptions which males, depending to a greater degree than most females do upon psychologic stimuli, often introduce into their heterosexual relationships.
It is, of course, quite possible for males to learn enough about female sexual responses to make their heterosexual contacts as effective as females make most homosexual contacts. With the additional possibilities which a union of male and female genitalia may offer in a heterosexual contact, and with public opinion and the mores encouraging heterosexual contacts and disapproving of homosexual contacts, relationships between females and males will seem, to most persons, to be more satisfactory than homosexual relationships can ever be. Heterosexual relationships could, however, become more satisfactory if they more often utilized the sort of knowledge which most homosexual females have of female sexual anatomy and female psychology.